The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of The Year 2025 competition.

On stage with Marvin Berglas - owner of Marvin's Magic and president of The Magic Circle.

From Writing a Stage Show to Competing at The Magic Circle

In my last post, I shared my journey of transitioning from close-up magic to the stage. After months of writing and developing my full-length stage show, I was presented with an exciting challenge—adapting my best material into a competition act.

The Road to The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year

My mentor, world champion magician Marc Oberon, and my friend and show producer Chris Wilder both suggested that I take elements of my stage show and transform them into a competition act. The timing was perfect: The Magic Circle Close-Up Magician of the Year 2025 competition was fast approaching, and the deadline for submissions was looming.

I worked intensely to shape my material into a 10-minute routine that would be competition-ready. The act centered around a powerful theme—gifts, and the people who give them. The audition tape was filmed at Sleight, a new monthly magic event held at The Berliner in Nottingham. After what felt like an eternity of waiting, I finally received the news—I had made it to the final six competitors! This meant one thing: I was heading to The Magic Circle HQ in London to compete in the grand final.

Preparing for the Final

With the competition just weeks away, I knew I had to put in the work. I committed to rehearsing every single day for hours on end, refining every detail of my act. I also set up test performances in front of live audiences and fellow magicians, gathering essential feedback and making adjustments based on constructive criticism.

Then, the moment arrived. Finals night.

Performing at The Magic Circle

The final was held in The Devant Room at The Magic Circle, with a live audience made up of magic fans, VIP guests, top magicians, and a panel of expert judges—including previous winners of the competition and leading entertainment industry professionals. The atmosphere was electric. The event was also broadcast live to a packed theatre of Magic Circle members and livestreamed worldwide to members tuning in from across the globe.

Backstage, the tension was palpable. According to the random draw, I was set to perform second—not a bad slot, but not the most desirable either. The competition was fierce, featuring big names in magic, highly talented young performers, creators, and established magicians.

When it was my turn to take the stage, I gave it my all. My performance was flawless—no mistakes, seamless execution, and, most excitingly, I even managed to fool some top magicians in the audience with my original magic tricks. The applause was rapturous, and I walked off stage feeling that I had truly delivered my best.

The Wait for the Results

After all six competitors had performed, the anticipation was immense. We expected a 20-minute wait, but the judges took over an hour to deliberate—a testament to the incredibly high standard of the competition. As I waited in the Magic Circle clubhouse, messages started coming in from fellow magicians and audience members—they were saying that I was a favorite to win! This was the moment where I allowed myself to dare to dream.

Finally, we were called back on stage for the results. The president of The Magic Circle, Marvin Berglas (owner of Marvin’s Magic), took to the microphone. The stakes were high—not only would the winner earn the prestigious title, but they would also receive an all-expenses-paid performance tour across America, including Chicago and Los Angeles.

Then, the results were announced…

And the Winner Is…

Third place: Mathew Knight!

That’s me!

I was shocked and delighted—securing a top-three placement in such a prestigious competition was an incredible honor. At the same time, I couldn’t help but feel that little pang of realization that my journey in this particular competition had ended… for now.

What’s Next?

Will I enter again? Who knows. For now, I’m celebrating this achievement, continuing to refine my craft, and looking forward to where this journey takes me next.

Watch this space…

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